HSBC Champions: Dustin Johnson 'mad' after late lapse cuts WGC lead

Dustin Johnson acknowledges the crowd during his third round at the WGC-HSBC Champions at Sheshan International.

Story highlights

American golfer Dustin Johnson leads by three shots ahead of final round in Shanghai

Johnson cards 10 birdies and two double-bogeys in Saturday's 66 at HSBC Champions

Defending champion Ian Poulter second after a 63 in World Golf Championship event

Third-placed Graeme McDowell seeking to take lead in Race to Dubai standings

Dustin Johnson was left frustrated after two lapses gave his rivals hope of stopping the American from running away with the biggest victory of his golf career in China.

The 29-year-old will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the $8.5 million HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, but two double-bogeys -- the second at his last hole -- took the gloss off a six-under-par 66 peppered with 10 birdies.

It meant that Ian Poulter's sparkling 63 in Saturday's third round put the Englishman in an even better position to emulate Tiger Woods -- the only player to defend a World Golf Championship title.

"I'm still a little mad from my double-bogey on 18," Johnson told reporters at Sheshan International Golf Club. "Obviously to have a three-shot lead going into the last day is good and I am looking forward to the challenge. I still have to play really well.

"If you told me teeing off I would shoot six under I would have taken it, but I obviously left a few shots out there. I'm definitely happy with what I shot. Obviously I'm just not happy with the way I finished."

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Johnson, who had led by five at the halfway stage of the co-sanctioned tournament, is seeking to add to his seven PGA Tour victories, the last of which came in Hawaii in January.

"Making two doubles, there's no excuse for that," he said. "Especially the way I'm playing right now, it shouldn't happen. But 66 is still a good day and I did make 10 birdies, so I hit a lot of great shots."

Poulter was second on 15 under, carding an eagle and eight birdies -- five of them in a row.

"I guess the only blemish for me, which leaves a bit of a sour taste, was three-putting 17, and actually missing a couple of opportunities," said Poulter, who is chasing the $1.2 million first prize to boost his hopes of reaching the European Tour's Race to Dubai finale.